Clermont, FL I On Day 2 of their Florida Spring Break trip, the Rutgers University-Newark softball team took on The College of Wooster and Springfield College in a pair of contests. Unfortunately, the Scarlet Raiders' (1-5) woes early in this trip continued as they lost both games, getting doubled up 10-5 by the Fighting Scots (6-4) before falling to the Pride (1-0) by a 9-3 score.

R-N returns to action tomorrow when they face St. Joseph's College-Long Island for the second time at 11:45 a.m. before taking on Farmingdale State College at 2 p.m.

Wooster 10, Rutgers-Newark 5
In Sunday's opener, the Raiders jumped on the board first. Following a single, fielder's choice, and putout at third following a strong throw by the left fielder, the visitors had a runner on first and two outs. Still, sophomore Julie Contravo extended the inning with a double before junior Sarah Stiehler worked a walk to load the bases. Sophomore Samantha Morton was next, and her patience paid off as she earned a base on balls and an RBI, bringing home rookie Jackie Lara to make it 1-0.

Unfortunately, the Fighting Scots would rack up seven runs in the first three innings to take a commanding 7-2 lead.

R-N rallied in the fourth as two walks and a single loaded the bases. With one out, sophomore Jaclyn Arute delivered the big blow, driving a bases-clearing double into center that brought the visitors within 7-5.

Still, that was as close as they would get with Wooster tacking on three more insurance runs to finish off the win.

Arute and Lara were the offensive leaders. Arute finished 2-for-4 with three RBI while Lara was also 2-for-4 and a pair of runs scored. Freshman Michelle Capizzano took the loss in the circle after 3.2 innings where she allowed seven runs on 11 hits. Sophomore Paige Masiello closed out the game with 2.1 frames of three-run (two earned) ball.

Springfield 9, Rutgers-Newark 3
In the second matchup, the Pride jumped out to a 2-0 advantage, but the hosts would erase that deficit in the fourth. Arute reached on an error and promptly scored when sophomore Brielle Mattiello plated her with a two-bagger. Three batters later, with runners on first and second, Morton delivered the next big hit as she singled home Lara to even the score at 2-2. Junior Alyssa Morales followed suit, picking up an RBI base knock of her own to put the Scarlet Raiders in front, 3-2.

That slim edge would evaporate in the sixth as Springfield poured on six runs to claim an 8-3 lead before tacking on one more in the seventh.

Morales and Arute were offensive leaders as the veteran infielder went 2-for-3 with an RBI and the sophomore shortstop had a 1-for-3 afternoon with a walk and run scored in the leadoff spot. Lara suffered the defeat as the starter went the distance, hurling all seven innings while allowing nine runs (six earned), walking one, and striking out three.